Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-07-22

continued to inspect her SO soberly that
she smiled again.
81 should think spading was hard
work; why doesn't your father do tor
somebody"
"Why, he amt my father!" cried the
child, noddng towards the shop. Hes
Nate Kelley. | only live here haint
got no folks!"
She looked as if she had no folks
poor thing.-in her tatters and CRIME
'Poor childr' Violet said. Her Look
seemed to the child like caress; she
came little nearer, as if moved to tell
the short. barren history of her life.
you see, | come from the poor us
My folks put me there when | wer not
three year old. My folks was too poor
to keep me. Miss Kelley took me out II
the poor us spell ago"
''What is your nameP'
"My name Bixby-that was my
folks name. To the poor-'us they
called me little Bixby. Pm short fur
age, but I'll grow"
GLOW old are youp"
81 don't know; Miss Kelley knows. "
"Well, what can you do for Mrs. Kel-
leyP"
The freckled face frightened.
81 kin do cons d. BILE jobs. l scrubs,
an milks, an churns, an forks the
manure, an spades, an weeds garding.
an washes, an tends baby, an y
"You poor. poor child Violet broke
in, impulsively. Vic cts chief fault was
her impulsiveness, her friends said.
Then she asked what was certainly a
very irrelevant and odd question.
"BlXby, did anybody ever kiss vouP'
'No, ma am" shaking her head pos
itively.
Ibid anybody ever tell you they loved
youP"
Glove me'' cried Bi&by; her tone was
a protest Then suddenly her chin
quivered and she said: Nobody love,
me; hain't no folks!'
Poor thing" and Violet's soft hand
smoothed the shock of closely cropped
hair.
Il hev tried to be good girl to Miss
Kelley she said. Il alters do list what
I'm told. but the chillern tell lies about
me, an Miss Kelley she says | amt with
my salt, an Pete broke the blue bowl
never fetched, an he "a d twas me, an
she whipped me orful, an shet me up
in the granny with the rats all night,
and here the tears came into her eyes.
The blacksm tbs hammer had ceas ID
its clinking, and he was seen, with his
apron on. critically examining the
phaeton, while Pete led Lady out of the
shop. Meanwhile a fieshy, hard-feat-
ured woman came out of the hous,
down to VIC t.
al Riyh v ic Y,1I-;,,f ~
B'xby is a bad girl; she tells lies. She
isn't with her SALT" the nasal voice
continued. ut was the worst bargain
l ever made takin' such a creetur from
the poor-house. I've done a good deal
fur her, but I'm sex and tirel I'm
goin to take her back to the poor
house. | says so to my man last n ght.
Out she goes, Nate says l, bag AID
baggage"
"'Tisn't true sobbed Bixby, the
tears streaming down her cheeks. Il
hev tried! heve done all she tole me. "
Impulsive Violet! she turned and
placed her hand upon the girl, and SAID:
Il tn nix | can make this little girl use
full; | will take her home with met
Mrs. Kelley stood as one paralyzed.
This was a sequel of which she hal
never dreamed. Her threat of taking
Bixby back to the poor house had be N
mere idle yaporing. Bixby's salt
had be n rated very highly
Bixby gasped: astonishment over
whelmed her; her world seemed falling
into chaos She hardly knew how sha
went and got her un-bonnet- had
little else to gather up. She had never
had any possessions, unless it was a
bottle-shaped gour and some valueless
old but o1s.
Il mu t k IS the baby!" she cried.
you sha'nt nether!' sa d Mrs.
Kelley, spitefully; "you sha'n't touch
himl'
He crowed on the floor, pudgy little
thing; h. had never en- unk nd to
Bixby, and she loved HIM.
Goodbye, jimmy" she sad, de-
vouring him with her eyes. Tnen she
crossed Mrs. Kelley's threshold for the
last time.
Another page of her life was ended.
81 never was so surprised in all my
life," said Violet Fem $ mother to her
pretty daughter 'n-law, Elise, "as when
Violet brought little Bixby home with
her.
Surpr sed was mild statement, for
she would not have been more astound-
ed at an Eruption of Cloths and Van
dals on their charming lakeside vii
lage.
Her household was small, and ran as if
on velvet She had two servants, John
and Mar a, who had been with her for
years. Bixby was certainly not needed,
and there would be much difficulty in
adjusting her to her proper position. A
great many mole-hills elevated them
selves into mounta MS before the good
lady discovered that, after all, things
went on about as usual, and Bixby was
the most tractable and eager to serve of
dependencies.
Il really can not see how you can
suffer such miserable creature about"
said FL Sc, whose idol was self. ..She
has that miserable, low down look |
despise, and her freckles are as BIG as
Oh =.